1450-26-R-IFBD-00011-V04

The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, procuring through the Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration Office of Statewide Strategic Sourcing, is requesting bids for vegetation management and habitat restoration services at the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and affiliated preserves in Jackson County, Mississippi, with bids due July 8, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. CST.

The scope includes selective mastication of approximately 480 acres of woody vegetation in wet pine savanna and wet pine flatwoods habitat to promote native herbaceous recovery, with preservation of slash pine, longleaf pine, live oak, gum, pecan, and pond cypress. Contractors must also construct approximately 8,900 linear feet of 30-foot-wide firelanes scraped to bare mineral soil. Bidders must submit pricing on a per-acre basis for all-inclusive services and hold the quoted price throughout the contract term.

Contractor qualifications include current insurance and licensure, access to low ground pressure heavy equipment and power tools, and at least one completed project within the past five years in forestry mulching, mastication, selective thinning, habitat restoration, land clearing, firelane construction, or similar vegetation management. Minimum insurance includes general liability of $1,000,000 aggregate and $500,000 per occurrence for personal injury, bodily injury, and property damage. Bidders must provide two professional references and register with Mississippi's MAGIC system prior to submission.

The initial contract term is one year from execution with an option to renew for one additional year under the same prices, terms, and conditions. Payment is due within 45 days of receipt of an approved invoice upon satisfactory completion of services.

A voluntary site visit is scheduled for June 17, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at GBNERR, 6005 Bayou Heron Road, Moss Point, Mississippi. The anticipated notice of intent to award is July 15, 2026. Bids open at 2:00 p.m. CST on July 8. Complete project specifications are available through April Burns, IFB Coordinator, at OSSS@dfa.ms.gov, through www.dmr.ms.gov, and the Mississippi Procurement Portal.